Kqeds The California Report

Governor Anticipates Tough Economic Times In California As California responds to the coronavirus pandemic, state and local governments are burning through enormous amounts of money. Governor Gavin Newsom says all that spending now means painful fiscal times later. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Los Angeles County Rolls Out Self-Administered COVID-19 Tests Los Angeles County has become the center of the coronavirus pandemic in California, If you live there and think you might have COVID-19 you can now get tested. Formerly, testing was largely reserved for at risk populations like the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Reporter: Kathryn Barnes, KCRW After 9-Month Pause, California Issuing Fracking Permits Again California officials are granting fracking permits again. The state had put a hold on applications for the controversial oil extraction technique last July because of growing safety and environmental concerns. Reporter: Ted Goldberg, KQED Zoom-Bombing gives rise to Zoom-Bouncers

New Rules for Courts in Coronavirus Times The California Judicial Council, which makes the rules for the state’s courts, has enacted a series of sweeping emergency rule changes to slow the spread of COVID-19 in jails and courtrooms, and ease the pressure on families who have to pay rent and mortgages. Reporter: Molly Solomon, KQED Speaker Pelosi on the Next Coronavirus Relief Bill Congress has passed three enormous pieces of legislation to bring relief to Americans who are suffering during the pandemic. But many in and outside of Congress want to do even more, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. KQED politics editor Scott Shafter interviewed Pelosi. Guest: House Speaker and San Francisco Democrat Nancy Pelosi Dogs Also Feel Cooped Up Under Stay-At-Home Orders Lots of Californians are feeling cooped up and stressed out due to physical distancing and being stuck at home. But there might be other members of the household whose mental state could be changing: our dogs. Some dogs are acting strangely durin

Healthcare Workers Could Lose Immigration Protections There are thousands of immigrants among the healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. But for years, the Trump Administration has tried to end the protections that allow many of these immigrants to live and work in the U.S. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Food Banks Cope With Surge in New Clients More and more Californians are losing their jobs because of the pandemic. Many are going to rely on the state’s food banks to keep their refrigerators and pantries stocked. But how ready is California’s food security safety net? The L.A. Regional Food Bank is already seeing a surge of people looking for food assistance. Reporter: Michael Flood, President, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Audio Diary: A Physician Recovers from COVID-19 We've heard a lot about health care workers who've tested positive for COVID-19. One of them is Matt Willis, a physician and the Public Health Officer of Marin County. Willis tested positive about two weeks ago

OC Hospital Using Plasma Treatment For COVID-19 In Orange County a hospital is experimenting with a way to help patients hit hard by COVID-19. They’ve successfully transferred plasma from the blood of someone who’s recovered from the illness into someone who still has it. Reporter: Alyssa Jeong Perry, KPCC Governor Announces Tax Relief For Small Businesses Nearly two million Californians have filed for unemployment benefits over the last three weeks. The state has taken in an average of 111,000 claims each day this past week. A lot of those workers are employed by small businesses which can now apply for tax relief for the year ahead. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Transit Agencies Report 90% Drops In Ridership Because of the pandemic and shelter in place orders, California's transit agencies, like L.A. Metro and BART have reported drops in upwards of 90%. In response, the agencies have reduced frequency of service, and cut operating hours for the few remaking passengers. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, KQED Califo

Street Protest in the Time of Coronavirus Shouting "No to Rent, Yes to Food!" and observing proper social distancing measures, demonstrators in Boyle Heights yesterday called on the City of L.A. to do more to protect renters during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tenants rights activists want to see complete rent forgiveness until the coronavirus crisis is declared over. Guest: Elizabeth Blaney, Union de Vecinos Self-Employed? It's Frustrating to File for Unemployment New data put startling numbers to the insecurity so many people feel right now. In the U.S., 6 and a half million people have filed unemployment claims. As the biggest state, and the first to order residents to shelter-in-place, California had the most claims: nearly 900-thousand. But that might be just the beginning - as people struggle to navigate the process of filing. And the situation’s even more complicated for freelancers and gig workers. They were ineligible before the new coronavirus hit. But they were promised help in that $2 Trillion dollar

CA Schools Likely Closed For The Rest Of The Year Across the state the debate about just how long school will be out because of the COVID-19 pandemic is intensifying. California’s superintendent of schools is telling districts to prepare for learning outside the classroom for the rest of the school year. Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED Governor Warns Of Emotional Toll On Isolated Seniors Isolation might be a good way to stay physically healthy but it can take an emotional toll. Governor Gavin Newsom says a call, text, or knock on the door can help seniors get what they need right now, whether that’s food or just someone to talk to. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED CA Distillery Transitions From Liquor To Sanitizer A California distillery on the central coast has changed its production line from making booze to bottling hand sanitizer. It's made with ethanol and will help with the acute shortage. Reporter: Greta Mart, KCBX Masks: To Wear Or Not To Wear? Who should wear a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic? What k

Newsom Asks Medical Workers for Help To deal with an expected surge in hospitalizations for COVID-19, Governor Gavin Newsom is creating the California Health Corps and calling on healthcare workers who may have recently retired or are still in school to join the fight against the coronavirus. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED California Nurse Heads to NYC to Help The effort to boost the state’s army of healthcare workers already faces competition from elsewhere. Last week, New York’s Governor, Andrew Cuomo, announced a very similar plan. And nurse Robert Bean from the town of Paradise has been deciding whether to help. Bean lost his home in the 2018 Camp Fire. Guest: Robert Bean, registered nurse Will Coronavirus Tenant Protections Really Help Renters? A lot of renters are wondering what help, if any, is coming their way as the coronavirus pandemic upends the economy and the household budgets of many Californians. All this just as we deal with shelter-in-place orders that are lasting longer than anyone ever coul

COVID-19 Medical Supply Shortages: Why and What to Do? This weekend, we learned from Governor Gavin Newsom that the federal government sent 170 ventilators from the national stockpile to L.A. County. But they didn't work. How California's Medical Supply Stockpile Was Dismantled California once had a plan for a pandemic like this one. In 2006, coming off the avian flu scare, the state invested hundreds of millions of dollars in a stockpile and three fully-equipped mobile hospitals. But during the 2008 recession, the state slashed the funding to maintain the stockpile. Guest: Will Evans, Reporter, Center for Investigative Reporting Silicon Valley Re-Tools To Meet Needs of Medical Workers Treating COVID-19 One Silicon Valley manufacturer that’s made big changes to what they produce because of the COVID-19 outbreak is Carbon 3D. The Redwood City company is using their 3D printers to make test swabs and face shields. Guest: Ellen Kullman, CEO, Carbon 3D

Daycare Workers Are Essential for Medical Staff to Work A lot of California day care centers are dealing with more kids, even as the preschools have fewer resources, like toilet paper. Reporter: Benjamin Purper, KVCR Restaurant Industry Reels from Pandemic Closures Restaurants have been ordered to close for in-house service to slow the virus’ spread. That’s led to the layoffs of countless restaurant workers. Evan Kleiman, a chef, former restauranteur, and the host of KCRW Santa Monica’s weekly food show, "Good Food," has been watching this with a heavy heart. We talked to her about what she’s been hearing from friends and colleagues in the restaurant industry. Guest: Evan Kleiman, Host of KCRW's "Good Food"

More Covid-19 Tests Coming to California California appears to be making progress when it comes to virus testing. Governor Gavin Newsom says as of Tuesday, nearly 67,000 tests have been done in the state. And thousands more will soon be completed. Reporter: Lily Jamali, The California Report co-Host State Finances Upended by Coronavirus Pandemic California’s response to the pandemic is upending the state’s finances. The state Department of Finance has transferred $1.3 billion dollars from its budget reserve account to help fight COVID-19. There’s still a lot of savings to draw on, but that money has strings attached. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Politics Editor This Is Not the Time for a Coronavirus Vacation With pandemic shelter in place orders in effect, a lot of people are getting a little stir crazy at home. You might be thinking about just getting out of town and heading up to the mountains or the desert. But this is not such a great idea. Guest: Lesley McClurg, KQED Science

How to Protect Farmworkers During Pandemic California’s agricultural land grows about a third of the nation’s vegetables and nearly two thirds of its fruits and nuts. This production is essential to America’s food supply. So during the coronavirus pandemic, what safety measures are in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 among the state’s hundreds of thousands of farmworkers? Reporter: Kathryn Barnes, KCRW How Much Isolation Is Needed for COVID-19? A lot of Californians who have tested positive for COVID-19, or are worried they might be infected, are self-quarantining themselves. But it’s not always so clear how long you have to stay isolated from others. Reporter: Laura Klivans, KQED State Anticipates Tighter Budgets Due to Coronavirus Slowdown The Newsom Administration is telling state agencies that the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis could have a big impact on the money the agencies have to spend. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Politics Editor Working Overtime to Process Unemployment Claims The cor

Health Insurance Rates Could Rise After Pandemic Health insurance costs could soar in the coming year because of the price of treating coronavirus and taking other health care measures. Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED Citizenship Ceremonies Cancelled The pandemic is making it harder for people to become naturalized Americans, affecting everything from citizenship classes to oath of allegiance ceremonies. Reporter: Michelle Pitcher College Kids Head Home, But What About Foster Kids? Across the state, college students are returning home as their campuses close, but students who came out of the foster care system don't have have a permanent home to return to. Reporter: Alice Daniel, Valley Public Radio Will High School Seniors Move On to College Amid Pandemic Many high school seniors are worried that delaying graduation because of the pandemic might keep them from attending college this fall. State officials are trying to figure out solutions. Reporter: Julia McEvoy, KQED Camp Fire Survivors Size Up PG&E'

PG&E Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter for Camp Fire PG&E said Monday that it is pleading guilty to 85 criminal counts in connection with the 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County, a blaze that killed 85 people and destroyed nearly 14,000 homes in and around the town of Paradise. Reporter: Lily Jamali, The California Report co-Host Hospitals Brace for Wave of COVID-19 Patients California hospitals are preparing for a surge of coronavirus patients. Governor Newsom has directed more than 42 million dollars in emergency funding to California’s health care system. part of that money will be used to lease a hospital in Daly City in Northern California and reopen a recently closed hospital here in L.A. Together, that should add a thousand more hospital beds...but that likely still won’t be nearly enough. Guest: Jorge Reyno, Vice President, Martin Luther King Hospital International Aid Groups Help Hospitals At L.A.’s Martin Luther King Hospital, the humanitarian aid group International Medical Corps, which usu

Governor Newsom: Californians Should Stay Home The governor asked all Californians to stay home and leave only for essential trips, to slow the spread of the coronavirus. State officials estimate could infect more than half the population without collective action. Hygiene and Risk Are Part of Life for Immuno-Compromised People We’ve all been trying to avoid a trip to the hospital, keeping our distance, trying to stay germ free. But that was already the daily reality of many who suffer from immune disorders like HIV/AIDS and some cancers. They’re also among the most at risk during this outbreak. Reporter: KQED’s Laura Klivans Coronavirus Disruption: From Anxiety to Grief A lot of what makes this hard is what we don’t immediately understand. It's not just the anxiety about our health and our jobs. It's the less obvious stuff like the loss of our routines and social connections. Here’s a guide to weathering these uncertain times. Reporter: Stephanie O’Neill Rural Californians As the shutdown has gone statewide

What the Coronavirus Pandemic Means for Children's Courts In Los Angeles, the Edelman Children’s courthouse has been closed for most of the week because of the outbreak. It handles some of our state’s most delicate cases, those of children allegedly abused or neglected. The courthouse is set to reopen Friday. But like so much this week, that could change. Reporter: Deepa Fernandes Judges Ask Justice Dept. to Close Immigration Courts It’s a different story in another corner of our justice system: immigration courts. Immigration udges are calling for the Department of Justice to shut down them down to protect staff and immigrant defendants from coronavirus. Guest: Judge Ashley Tabaddor, President of the National Association of Immigration Judges What To Do With Detained Migrants During the Outbreak Immigrant advocates say detained migrants should be released because it's risky to hold them in close quarters in I.C.E. facilities during an outbreak. The Trump administration's plan is to turn away asylum seek

Farmworkers and Growers Brace for Impact of Coronavirus on Agriculture Industry There might be some trouble coming to a produce aisle near you. Many farmers and migrant fieldworkers who pick, process, and pack so much of our food are worried about how coronavirus is upending this very important corner of our state’s economy. Guest: Alex Hall, Fresno reporter, KQED Lawsuit Alleges Daly City Violated State's Sanctuary Laws An undocumented immigrant from El Salvador has sued Daly City, saying police violated the state’s sanctuary law by turning him over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED

Social Distancing Escalates to Shelter-in-Place As of midnight, the Bay Area has the nation’s strictest policy aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Residents are being instructed to not leave the house for the next three weeks unless it's essential. Legislature Passes Emergency Funding The California Legislature took emergency action Monday night to address the coronavirus, and then it took a break. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED Food Delivery Workers Hustle to Keep Restaurants Alive In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti has ordered restaurants to stop serving in-house meals as a public safety precaution, but ordering out is still allowed. That's made food delivery people very important, both to keep people fed and to keep restaurants going. Reporter: Saul Gonzalez, The California Report co-Host Inspections of Nursing Homes on Hold Regulators charged with overseeing nursing homes aren't inspecting nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Advocates for this population, the most at risk of dying

Governor Advises Seniors to Stay Home Governor Gavin Newsom has called for nightclubs, bars, and wineries to shut down for now. Restaurants are to cut their occupancy in half. And, everyone 65 and older, and those with chronic health issues, is being told to stay home. Reporter: Sharon McNary, KPCC First Week of Coronavirus Closures for California's Schoolkids For students, parents, and teachers throughout California, this is Day One of no school. Late last week, one after another, districts around the state announced closures as a way to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. Guest: Erica Pan, Interim Health Officer, Alameda County Millions of Students Will Miss School for Weeks So just how many kids will be out of school this morning? For that, I spoke with KQED Education Reporter Vanessa Rancano. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED Anaheim Merchants Reeling from Disney Closure Theme parks shut down all around the state, including, most famously, Disneyland in Anaheim. That affects a lot of small indep